By the Honorable Henry Lawrence Esquire Vice President of the State of South Carolina one of the united States of America Commander in Chief for the time [being]

To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting

Know ye that I do hereby appoint Kirby Rathel to be first Lieutenant [of] the Brigantine of war called the Defence of the burthen of about one hundred Tons belonging to this State Commanded by Captain Thomas Pickering hereby granting Comm[ission ], License and authority to him therewith by force of arms to apprehend, seize, and take [such] Ships, Vessells, and Goods which are liable to seizure and confiscation pursuant to the resolves of the Representatives of the said State in General Congress assembled and to bring [the] same to the most convenient port in order to be legally adjudged in some court having ju[risdic ]tion in cases of Capture, and you are to observe and follow such orders and Instructions a[s you] shall from time to time receive from me or any of your superior Officers for the time being ー

Commission granted by the vice president to Norton Cole to be a Second Lieutenant the same as above

March 25th 1777 ー